PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 3, 1999
The School Board of the Parish of Concordia, State of Louisiana, met in regular session at the Concordia Parish School Board Office, in Vidalia, Louisiana, on Tuesday, August 3, 1999, at five-thirty (5:30) o'clock p.m. The meeting was called to order by the Honorable Mike Grantham, President, who declared that the Board, after prayer by Rev. Johnnie Brown, and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, was ready for the transaction of business.
Members present were the Honorable Mike Grantham, Mr. Ricky Raven, Mr. Darrell Crofford, Mr. Don Joseph, Rev. Johnnie Brown, Mrs. Mary Campbell, Mr. Lynn White and Mrs. Martha Rabb.
Member absent was Mr. Eddie L. Coleman.
The Board recognized Mrs. Dorothy Ulmer, VHS Teacher, as the Wal Mart Teacher of the Year.
Mrs. Gloria Dangerfield, Assistant Director of Business Affairs, presented the monthly financial statement. It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Rev. Brown and carried unanimously to approve invoices in the amount of $1,977,560.00.
It was moved by Rev. Brown, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to hear Agenda Item F before the Board went into Executive Session.
Billy Hammer, Vidalia Chief of Police, presented the COPS proposal to the Board. Chief Hammer explained that the COPS program was a pilot program which would place officers in the schools on a rotating basis. This would allow the students to become accustomed to seeing law enforcement officers at the school in an everyday setting.
Randy Maxwell, Concordia Parish Sheriff, informed the Board that the COPS officers were there to serve the principals, not to interfere with the day-to-day operations of the school.
Eddie Newman, Ferriday Chief of Police, informed the Board that the officers would be there to help.
Jimmy Darden, Concordia Parish Sheriff's Deputy, informed the Board that he had reviewed the Concordia Parish School Board Crisis Plan. Mr. Darden was complimentary of the plan. He informed the Board that the plan was comprehensive and would help the Sheriff's Department.
It was moved by Rev. Brown, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried unanimously to go into executive session at 5:43 p.m.
It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried unanimously to return to open session at 8:00 p.m.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mrs. Rabb and carried unanimously to add the following three personnel items to the agenda.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to suspend Renard Cage, Custodian, Ferriday Education Center, without pay effective August 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10, 1999.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mrs. Rabb and carried unanimously to appoint John Bostic, as Assistant Principal/Agriculture Teacher at Monterey High School.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to appoint James Lee as Principal at Ferriday Junior High School.
Reverend Lee addressed the Board concerning the Board's decision not to renew James E. Lee's contract as Superintendent.
It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Joseph and carried unanimously to award the exterminating Service bid for school food service to B&B Pest Control. The awarded bid was in the amount of 245.00 per unit.
It was moved by Mrs. Rabb, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried 7-1, with Mr. Crofford voting no, to approve the uniform policy for 1999-2000.
Tom O'Neal, Director of Business Affairs, opened bids for propane gas service for the Monterey School. The bids were as follows.
Ferrellgas 0.58 per gallon
Herring Gas Co. did not meet specifications
Macon Ridge Propane 0.56 per gallon
It was moved by Rev. Brown, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to take the propane gas bids under advisement.
Mr. O'Neal opened bids for pest control services for the home economics departments. The bids were as follows.
B&B Pest Control $170.00 per unit
Redd Pest Control $175.00 per unit
It was moved by Mr. Joseph, seconded by Mrs. Rabb and carried unanimously to take the pest control bids under advisement.
Mr. O'Neal opened bids for fiscal agent and depository bank for the Concordia Parish School Board. Only one bid was received. Mr. O'Neal explained that it was a joint bid between Concordia Bank and Trust Company and Louisiana Central Bank. Acting as fiscal agent and depository bank(s), funds on deposit are to be divided seventy-five percent (75%) to Concordia Bank and Trust Company and twenty-five percent (25%) to Louisiana Central Bank.
It was moved by Mr. White, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried unanimously to accept the bid.
It was moved by Mr. Joseph, seconded by Mrs. Rabb and carried unanimously to approve the Family Independence resolution.
Superintendent Peterman presented a proposal to the Board for a raise in teacher and teacher assistant stipend pay. Dr. Peterman requested the Board approve $18.00 per hour for staff development activities, $20.00 for student contact activities for teachers and $9.00 per hour for teacher assistants.
It was moved by Rev. Brown, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to approve a raise in teacher and teacher assistant stipend pay.
Mr. O'Neal explained to the Board that an audit on Board funds was conducted on a regular basis. He suggested that the Board provide the auditors with a letter addressing the specific areas of concern. Mr. Raven stated that the change in administration created a concern for audit purposes.
It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried 6-2 with Rev. Brown and Mary Campbell voting no, to request that a legislative audit be conducted on the Concordia Parish School Board as soon as possible.
The request for the Board to hear comments on Policy GBD was withdrawn.
It was moved by Rev. Brown, seconded by Mr. Joseph and carried unanimously to approve Policy ID - Curriculum.
Superintendent Peterman explained to the Board the position of Instructional Facilitator. He requested that Mrs. Patty Bellis, Coordinator of Grants and Public Information, explain to the Board the basis for the grant funded position. Mrs. Bellis provided the Board with the duties and intent of the program position and informed the Board that the position was for one year only.
It was moved by Rev. Brown, seconded by Mr. White and carried unanimously to approve the Instructional Facilitator position.
Superintendent Peterman explained to the Board the purpose and intent for establishing District Assistance Teams. The teams would be assigned to those schools scoring below fifty percent (50%). Mr. Julius Huhn, Federal Programs Director, and Mr. Fred T. Butcher, Academic Director, would head the two teams. Mr. Huhn and Mr. Butcher would evaluate the principals and programs in the schools to which they are assigned.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Joseph and carried unanimously to approve the establishment of District Assistance Teams.
Mr. Irvin, Maintenance and Transportation Supervisor, presented a proposal from the Concordia Parish Library, Ferriday Branch, which requested the Board assist in payment for construction work for establishing additional parking spaces.
It was moved by Mr. White, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to refer the request to the board attorney.
Superintendent Peterman presented the school allotments to the Board. Dr. Peterman pointed out that there was a typographical error in the athletic allotment for Vidalia High School. The figure should read $9,000.00, with the total for the allotment category being $29,000.00.
It was moved by Rev. Brown, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried to approve the 1999-2000 school allotments with the adjustment for Vidalia High School.
Rev. Justin Conner requested that the Board table his request on out-of-zone students until the September meeting.
Rev. Robert Lee stated that he did not know what James was going to do. Rev. Lee also requested that the Board erase the motion made in June.
It was moved by Mr. Brown, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to offer baseball at Ferriday High School.
It was moved by Rev. Brown, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried unanimously to approve the following retirements.
Patricia Brown, Teacher, VUES, effective August 31, 1999
Robert L. Cade, Teacher/Coach, effective August 2, 1999
It was moved by Rev. Brown, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to approve the following resignations.
Warren D. Brown, Teacher/Coach, FUES, effective July 22, 1999
George R. Crawford, Teacher/Coach, MHS, effective July 31, 1999
Paula Crawford, Assistant Principal, FHS, effective July 31, 1999
Brenda D. Jarvis, Teacher, FJHS, effective July 19, 1999
Tatia Webber, Teacher, FJHS, effective August 1, 1999
Sharon Davis, Teacher, FUES, effective August 1, 1999
Irene McGraw, Bus Attendant, FEC, effective July 28, 1999
Amelda Thomas, Teacher, FLES effective August 1, 1999
Ava Stewart, Teacher, FLES, effective August 1, 1999
Tabitha Sinclair, Teacher, FUES, effective August 2, 1999
Debra Pinkney, Teacher, RES, effective August 1, 1999
Vickie Smith, Teacher, VJHS, effective August 1, 1999
Richard Todd Thompson, Teacher, FJHS, effective August 1, 1999
Rosetta Bailey, Teacher, FLES, effective July 30, 1999
Paul Glynn, Teacher/Coach, MHS, effective August 2, 1999
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to approve the following transfers.
Tracy Smith, Teacher, FHS, to Teacher, FLES, effective August 12, 1999
Charley Richard, Teacher/Coach, FJHS, to Teacher, FUES, effective August 12, 1999
Carolyn Ratcliff, School Bus Operator, to fill vacant route of Mary Green, effective August 12, 1999
Superintendent Peterman recommended Mrs. Marie Potts for the position of assistant principal at Ferriday High School. It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to accept the superintendent's recommendation.
It was moved by Rev. Brown, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to approve the remainder of the personnel appointments. They are as follows:
Assistant Principal, FHS, effective August 4, 1999
Jeannie Crnkovic, Teacher, FHS, effective August 12, 1999
Branton Lewis, Teacher, FJHS, effective August 12, 1999
Ida Anderson, Teacher, FUES, effective August 12, 1999 (first semester only)Sharlene
Campbell, Teacher FUES, effective August 12, 1999
Roger Erhart, Teacher, FJHS, effective August 12, 1999
Helen Reasor, Teacher, FLES, effective August 12, 1999
Regina Harris, Teacher, FLES, effective August 12, 1999
Lois Jackson, Teacher, FLES, effective August 12, 1999
Shunda Loyd, Teacher, FUES, effective August 12, 1999
James Kelly, Teacher, FJHS, effective August 12, 1999
Joyce Ivory, Teacher, FJHS, effective August 12, 1999
Marcell Miller, Teacher, RES, effective August 12, 1999
Charles Daniel, School Bus Operator, to fill vacant route of Wanda Nell Temple, effective August 12, 1999
Delores Robinson, SFS Technician, to SFS Manager, VJHS, effective August 12, 1999
President Grantham requested that all remember Mr. Coleman in their prayers during his recovery.
Superintendent Peterman recommended that the $100.00 teacher allotment be continued. There was no objection from the Board.
It was moved by Rev. Brown, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried unanimously to adjourn at 9:18 p.m.
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Dr. Lester Peterman, Interim Superintendent Mike Grantham, Board President